Helsingor, Denmark

January 24

Fishing for Shrimps and Hamlet in Helsingor

By Sergio Morales Alemán

On the last day of our learning cluster, we got the opportunity to travel to the town of Helsingør and visit the Øresund Aquarium. Also known as Øresundsakvariet, the aquarium is a small and charming saltwater aquarium north of Kronborg Castle. In the aquarium, we met with Jan Wilkens Schmidt, who specializes in Outdoor Education and Learning, and Michael Hansen, a marine biologist and nature interpreter.

In the first hour in the aquarium, Michael gave us a tour of the different tanks and exhibits, explaining that all of the species in the place are brought only from the Øresund Strait. Michael also emphasized that the aquarium’s small size makes it easier to implement changes and maintain the tanks if new creatures are added. From the touch tanks to the educational signs (in Danish, Swedish, English, and German!), we met the different species inhabiting Øresund, such as flatfishes, edible crabs, spiny starfishes, seatrouts, European eels, etc. After that, Michael let us go behind the scenes and see how the tanks are maintained. Beyond the tanks, we also got to see the workers taking care of the fish, as well as the laboratories that are used for research. On our way to the classroom inside the aquarium, we got the opportunity to see research done by the University of Copenhagen (which partners with the aquarium) explaining that Greenland sharks are potentially the longest living vertebrate animal known to science by exceeding 270 years of age.

After that, Jan gave us a short lecture about the Danish outdoor education model. Jan stated the pedagogy derives from curriculum-based teachings and follows the primary school subjects. Instead of emphasizing just forests, the Danish outdoor education model is practiced both in other nature spots and cultural environments such as the sea, meadows, and museums. The Øresund Aquarium provides a unique marine perspective to students when it comes to outdoor education because it branches off from the usual terrestrial perspective of nature. The aquarium collaborates with nature guides, museums, companies, schools, and universities to make sure the marine teaching perspective is authentic as possible. Jan also emphasized the Home-Away-Home learning style in which a class would usually go out once every week or two weeks. The first Home highlights feeding forward and giving a common understanding to new of information or project. Away stands for the project or activity being run outside the classroom, either through an external collaborator or teacher. The second Home signifies feedback and a project being evaluated—often associated with a final product such as a logbook or a small exhibition. Finally, Jan informed us about the benefits of outdoor education, such as better motor skills, more direct experiences, better social understanding, better health, differentiated learning, etc.

Observing the fish we caught

In our overalls ready to fish

Collecting data

Michael and Jan then took us outside the aquarium at the Øresund Strait to do an outdoor activity. Styling in our waders, we set out to the sea! The activity we did is a course based on the common goals for 7^th grade and lasted shorter than usual because of time restrictions. We studied the coastal environment and collected animals and plants living in the sound (Øresund) while Kronborg Castle stood in the distance. Additionally, we collected physical data of the area, such as water temperature, wind direction, wind speed, and water flow direction. Besides shrimp, we also caught flatfish and jellyfish! After the activity, we returned the animals to their homes and reflected on what we learned. We give a huge shout-out and thank you to Michael and Jan for the work they do and for taking time off to inform us about marine outdoor education!

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse